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VERDUN, QC, Feb. 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Verdun Borough Mayor Claude Trudel, member of Ville de Montréal's Executive Committee responsible for public safety and security, is proud to announce that today, Borough Council has approved awarding a professional services contract to develop the museum phase of Maison Nivard-De Saint-Dizier.

Within the project to restore this historical site and hold events and tours there, the Council members have in fact awarded a contract to the architectural firm of Beaupré et Michaud for a total amount of $83,527.50 to look after the design, plans and specifications as well as on-site work supervision of the museum phase of the site. Also included in this contract are professional architectural and engineering services to make changes to the building, add an illuminated base and the service building.

For Mayor Claude Trudel, "the restoration and upgrading to museum standards of this jewel that Maison Nivard-De Saint-Dizier truly is, bears witness to the Council members' will to give Verdunites a chapter of their history that has inestimable value."

A historical site of great heritage value

Located at the mouth of the Lachine Rapids, Maison Nivard-De Saint-Dizier was built in 1710 for Congrégation Notre-Dame de Montréal, on the Fief de Verdun - land that was bequeathed to the Sisters by Zacharie Dupuy in 1673. It is one of the oldest homes on the island of Montréal and is an outstanding example of rural architecture at the beginning of the French regime.

Maison Nivard-De Saint-Dizier was recognized as a historical monument by the Commission des biens culturels du Québec on February 13, 1976. A few years later, in 2005, 2006 and 2008, archeological inventories made it possible to discover an outstanding, large-scale site where traces of ancient, pre-historic Amerindian occupation were found (trading post, evidence of technology, encampment, persistence and recurrence of occupation of the site by the Amerindians).

En route to a unique interpretation centre for Amerindian culture

Maison Nivard-De Saint-Dizier and the site were recognized as cultural facilities in 2008 in order to turn it into an interpretation centre and hold a permanent exhibition there. Part of this building managed to be restored in 2008, through agreements reached between the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine (MCCCF) and Ville de Montréal.

In April 2009, an application for financial assistance was submitted to Ville de Montréal's Forum des équipements culturels. This application was examined in accordance with the agreement between the MCCFQ and Ville de Montréal. To submit this application, a museological concept as well as a concept for the development of the premises was prepared, and in September 2009, the firm CULTURA bureau d'études inc. was hired to prepare the museological upgrading to meet standards as well as pave the way for setting up an interpretation centre, including activities, a permanent exhibition and an interpretative tour.

The upgrading to museum standards, the installation of a geothermal system and the final building modification phases, including the construction of a service building, have yet to be finalized, in order to prepare for the museum production of the interpretation centre, following the restoration phase. The service building will make it possible for the interpreters to welcome public visitors and will also provide access to washrooms for the disabled and a lunch counter that can serve food at special events. A lighting concept that will enhance the main building and the addition of an illuminated base are part of this phase of the project as well.

Development and installation of the museum production and the landscape architecture come within the next major phases of the project.